Strawberry plant named &#39;Driscoll Ojai&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Ojai’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’. The variety is distinguished from ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice,’ in particular, by its height, longer petiole length, longer fruiting truss length, open canopy density and moderate susceptibility to powdery mildew.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Ojai’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,005) and ‘Driscoll Venice’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,062) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Ventura County, California in 1999. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Shasta County, California. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, California, where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Ojai’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Ventura County, California for four years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Ojai’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

Comparison to Similar Varieties

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Ojai’ from those known to us are ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,005) and ‘Driscoll Venice’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,062). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’. For example, the new variety is taller, has a longer petiole length, a longer fruiting truss length, an open canopy density and is moderately susceptible to powdery mildew.

‘Driscoll Ojai’ is distinguished from its parent, ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’ as indicated in Tables 1-4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and upper side of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants harvested from a nursery in Bonanza, Oreg. in September and October, 2004 and held in cold storage until planting in Ventura County, California in October, 2004. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in Ventura County, California. Fruits were harvested twice weekly from January, 2005 to May, 2005 for yield determination. Observations of ‘Driscoll Ojai’, ‘Driscoll El Capitan’, and ‘Driscoll Venice’ were made in side by side comparison in April, 2005. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Propagation

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

Characteristics of the New Variety

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on seven month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Ojai’ compared with characteristics of ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Ojai’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’. TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL OJAI’, ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL VENICE’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll El ‘Driscoll Ojai’ Capitan’ Venice’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 22.6 20.8 18.5 Spread of Plant (cm) 32.1 31.0 31.5 Number of Crowns 4.1 4.0 3.2 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Length 7.4 6.7 6.3 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Width 7.0 6.0 6.5 (cm) Terminal Leaflet 1.06 1.12 0.96 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal Leaflet 22.0 20.0 23.7 Color of upper side 137A 147A 147A medium dark green dark green green Color of under side 147D 147C 139C light to light to light to medium medium medium green green green Petiole Length (cm) 15.5 13.5 12.2 Petiole Diameter (mm) 3.0 3.1 3.5 Petiole Color 145C 149A 149A yellow green yellow green yellow green Petiolule Length (mm) 7.6 8.1 5.9 Petiolule Diameter (mm) 1.8 1.7 1.8 Petiolule Color 145B 149A 149A yellow green yellow green yellow green Bract Frequency 42% 0% 8% typically typically paired single Stipule Length (cm) 3.8 3.9 3.7 Stipule Width (cm) 0.94 0.93 0.95 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color 61C 58A purple red purple red Diameter at bract (mm) 3.16 2.51 Avg. # of Daughter plants (2003 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.28 1.31 1.40 Petal Width (cm) 1.23 1.28 1.32 Petal Length/Width Ratio 1.04 1.02 1.06 Flower Diameter (cm) 2.35 2.37 2.6 Calyx Diameter (cm) 4.3 4.24 4.94 Sepal Length (mm) 19.6 18.6 20.9 Sepal Width (cm) 9.49 8.33 9.67 Petal Color 155B 155C 155C white white white Receptical Color 1A 7A 7A yellow yellow yellow Anther Color 12A 13A 13A yellow yellow yellow Fruiting Truss Length (cm) 27.9 24.8 18.2 Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 4.6 4.3 4.5 Fruit Width (cm) 3.7 3.3 4.2 Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.27 1.32 1.06 Average Berry Weight (g) 26.8 26.3 30.6 External Color 46A 53A 45A dark red dark red medium red Internal Color 42B 43A 34A and 155C medium red red orange red and white Achene Coloration 59B to 9A 60A to 151A 60A to 15B dark red to dark red to dark red to yellow yellow green yellow 2003 Marketable Yield 712 661 592 (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL OJAI’, ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL VENICE’ Driscoll ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll ‘Ojai’ El Capitan’ Venice’ Plant Habit globose globose globose Canopy Density open medium medium dense dense Vigor strong medium medium Leaf Shape in cross section concave slightly slightly concave concave Interveinal blistering strong strong strong Glossiness medium strong strong Number of leaflets three three three only only only Terminal leaflet margin profile flat flat flat Terminal leaflet shape of base rounded rounded rounded Terminal leaflet shape of teeth obtuse obtuse obtuse Stipule pubescence medium sparse to medium medium Petiole pubescence dense dense dense Petiole pose of hairs outwards outward to outward to downward downward Stolon Anthocyanin coloration weak medium to medium strong Thickness medium thin medium Pubescence weak sparse to medium to medium dense Inflorescence Position relative to foliage above above level to above Diameter of calyx relative to larger larger larger corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner calyx relative to larger smaller to smaller outer on secondary flowers same size Spacing of petals touching over- touching lapping to over- lapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate prostrate prostrate Fruit Predominant shape almost cordate cordate cylindrical Difference in shapes between moderate marked slight primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes narrow very very narrow narrow Unevenness of surface weak to weak to weak medium medium Evenness of color even slightly slightly uneven uneven to even to even Glossiness strong strong medium to strong Insertion of achenes level with below to level with surface level with surface the surface Insertion of calyx level in a basin level to to level set above Pose of the calyx segments spreading reflexed reflexed to reflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit on same size larger larger secondary fruit to larger Adherence of calyx medium to strong strong strong Firmness of flesh firm firm medium Evenness of flesh color slightly even uneven uneven Distribution of flesh color marginal marginal only and and marginal central central Hollow center size medium large small to medium Sweetness strong strong strong Texture when tasted fine to fine medium medium Acidity medium medium weak Time of First Flowering After mid- mid- late- Planting in 2004 December December December Harvest Interval in 2005 late late late January January January to to to late-May late-May late-May Type of Bearing partially partially partially ever- ever- ever- bearing bearing bearing

Reaction to Stress, Pests, and Disease

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL OJAI’, ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL VENICE’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Ojai’ El Capitan’ Venice’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew moderately moderately moderately susceptible resistant resistant Verticillium wilt susceptible susceptible susceptible Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

Isozyme Analysis

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Ojai’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Ojai’, ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ and ‘Driscoll Venice’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article. TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL OJAI’, ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’ AND ‘DRISCOLL VENICE’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll El ‘Driscoll Locus Ojai’ Capitan’ Venice’ PGI A1 A2 A4 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C2 C4 C2 

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 